Paint a Room

In theory, we all know how to paint a room. Dip a brush or roller in a color and spread it over the wall. But painting neatly and efficiently is a skill most of us could brush up on. We have a basic guide to the essential tips and techniques to get the job done.

Step 4: Using a Brush- Paint part of a corner or around the trim with a 2-inch angled brush. This is called "cutting in."- "Cut in" with brush 4-foot sections at a time to avoid marks when paint dries.

Step 5: The "V" technique- Pour paint into reservoir of your roller tray and dip in one edge of the roller. Move back and forth until it's saturated but not dripping.- Paint a two-foot "V" and fill it in with tight vertical strokes.- Repeat, working top to bottom, until you've completed the wall.

Step 6: Storing the Leftover Paint- Transfer leftover paint to smaller airtight plastic containers, as leaving paint in an open cans dries it out.- Create labels with the name of the room in which the color was used, and keep the paint on hand for touch-ups.